Step inside Shuly's 1930s Manchester home

The curves of the furniture keep it from looking too imposing, but it's the scultpural floor lamp that really steals the show in this room.

High ceilings and skylights make Shuly's kitchen-diner feel very light and airy, so it's the perfect space to accommodate statement furnishings such as the Tulip table and chairs, which may otherwise be swamped. The curves of the furniture keep it from looking too imposing, but it's the scultpural floor lamp that really steals the show in this room. Position it over your dining table to create a cosy atmosphere at meal times.

1/10 Open-plan kitchen-diner

white dining area with table and sofa

(Image credit: Future PLC/Colin Poole)

Table and chairs
Lover's Lounge

Similar lamp
Ambientedirect.com

2/10 Kitchen

white kitchen with worktop and black walled tiles

(Image credit: Future PLC/Colin Poole)

Shuly's classic white kitchen is given a glam feel with glossy black brick tiles, which provide a dramatic contrast to the lightness of the rest of the scheme. Add opulence to your space by hanging chandelier-style lights above an island; the glass will reflect beautifully around the room. Take a tip from stylists everywhere and go for three pendants to get the best effect.

Kitchen
Howdens
Black brick tiles
B&Q
Similar pendants
Sainsbury's

3/10 Living room

grey living room with sofa and fire place

(Image credit: Future PLC/Colin Poole)

Grey walls and grey furniture combine to give Shuly a grown-up retreat that is super chic. The fireplace is the focus, with its pretty, paisley-patterned wallpaper creating a beautiful feature in the living room. Grey is very versatile, which means it works well with almost any colour - you can easily mix it with a natural-wood floor, white ceiling and black furniture. Or you could even add a hit of bright colour with your accessories.

Paint
Manor House Gray by Farrow & Ball
Similar lamp
Made

4/10 Living room corner

grey living room with sofa an glass table

(Image credit: Future PLC/Colin Poole)

The choice of a glass table in this corner of Shuly's living room is a clever trick to keep the space feeling bright and prevent it from looking cramped. The beautiful French-style mirror above the sofa also reflects light from the window and breaks up a solid patch of grey wall, while blinds, rather than curtains, allow Shuly to control the amount of light that flows into the room.

Blinds

Tuiss
Cushions
H&M

5/10 Under-stair storage

white stairway with wooden flooring and drawer

(Image credit: Future PLC/Colin Poole)

The key to making an understairs area a success is the right storage; no one wants to see lots of shoes piled up everywhere! In Shuly's space, a glossy white chest makes the most of the space in this hallway. If you want to jazz up a plain piece of furniture, why not try adding a wall sticker or painting on a stencil? It's an easy way to turn an ordinary item into something a little more special.

Bird sticker
Ferm Living
Similar storage unit
Ikea

6/10 Hallway

wooden stairway with walled mirror

(Image credit: Future PLC/Colin Poole)

The walls in Shuly's hallway have been painted in a pale colour to really let the oak staircase take centre stage. If you have beautiful wooden floors, it can be a shame to cover them up or paint over them, so this look really takes advantage of their natural beauty. Just make sure that the wood has been varnished so that it can handle the wear and tear of being in a high-traffic area - and add spotlights to light the way!

Paint
Cornforth White by Farrow & Ball
Similar mirror
French Mirror Company

7/10 Main bedroom

bedroom with floral wallpaper and white bed

(Image credit: Future PLC/Colin Poole)

A statement wallpaper with large-scale flowers makes an impact in Shuly's bedroom. Hang on one wall - the one behind your bed - so the pattern doesn't become overwhelming. On the other walls, choose a neutral paint - creams, whites or greys all work well and go with almost any colour. Keep your furnishings relatively neutral, too, so they don't detract attention from your wallpaper.

Bed

Lover's Lounge
Wallpaper
Cole & Son

8/10 Girl's bedroom

girls bedroom with cupboard and bedside table

(Image credit: Future PLC/Colin Poole)

Girls of any age would love this bedroom with its pink butterfly wallpaper and matching pink walls. Shabby-chic items of furniture in a mix of neutrals show how well a room can come together without everything matching perfectly, while the ornate French style of the pieces gives the space a luxurious look. Keep a sense of fun in a child's bedroom by choosing a bright duvet cover that both contrasts with, and complements, the wall colour.

Wallpaper
Laura Ashley
Bird cushion
Next

9/10 Bathroom

white bathroom with bathtub and steel towel rack

(Image credit: Future PLC/Colin Poole)

The modern fittings in Shuly's compact bathroom have unusual shapes - such as the bath's triangular edges and the curved basin - that add interest to the space. Central taps and large neutral tiles keep the room looking streamlined, while accents of colour have been added with the ruby-red towels - such an easy way to give your bathroom a new look.

Bath
Bathstore
Towels
Ikea

10/10 Exterior

house exterior with bricked wall and white windows

(Image credit: Future PLC/ Colin Poole)

Shuly's four-bedroom home was built in the 1930s, so it benefits from high ceilings and a spacious feel. The previous owners had extended the house, which meant there was already a large kitchen-diner downstairs. As all the basics and structural work were done, Shuly was able to focus on decorating each room exactly how they wanted it.

Heather Young
Editor

Heather Young has been Ideal Home’s Editor since late 2020, and Editor-In-Chief since 2023. She is an interiors journalist and editor who’s been working for some of the UK’s leading interiors magazines for over 20 years, both in-house and as a freelancer.